How to Wear: Alexander McQueen’s Spring Collection

By Connie Nguyen, Staff Writer

If you haven’t heard already, on February 11, 2010, the fashion industry suffered a great loss when one of its most creative designers, Lee Alexander McQueen, passed away. Known for his innovative, unconventional, and often shocking designs, the English designer was a favorite among celebrities such as Lady GaGa, Rihanna, and Björk . In homage to the late, great designer, here’s how to channel McQueen’s Ready to Wear spring collection into your outfits.

McQueen’s last Ready to Wear spring line embodied the quickly degrading state of the Earth. The collection put a heavy emphasis on natural Earth tones such as green, brown, orange, and blue. Many of the pieces in the collection were created with digital printing, which produces bold reptilian, and sometimes insect-like, prints on the mini dresses.

In terms of shape and cut, McQueen juxtaposed voluminous sleeves and skirts with a fitted waist. Most of the skirts held a distinct bell shape, though some seemed to flow like water. Several pieces in the spring line also donned an exaggerated collar that continued the theme of juxtaposition.

At first glance, the collection may seem too extreme and bizarre, with pieces that only Lady Gaga would wear. However, tone it down a few notches and you could be wearing a chic McQueen-esque outfit in no time. The graphic prints were the most prominent trend in the McQueen collection. Just pick up a garment that’s printed with an Earth tone palette and scale-like pattern. Then, pair it with a few solid color garments, as to not take away the effect of the print.

For the best McQueen outfit, find a top with loose,  volume-full sleeves or a high-waist skirt that puffs out. Then there will be no mistaking your obvious McQueen-inspired outfit. Accessorize it with a few embellished pieces, but not too much since you want to keep the emphasis on the graphic print of your outfit. Top it all off with an easy up-do and you’ll have taken the great stylings of Alexander McQueen from the runway to the real way.